Real Simple: FOOD
Special Cooking Edition
Fall 2006
On stands until 11-7-06
Fall 2006
On stands until 11-7-06
HighFive Definitions:
co~ok [kook] –verb
- the act of buying ingredients one doesn’t already have (i.e. shallots, miso paste, anything "fresh")
- the act of following a recipe
- requires actions such as preheating and marinating
- requires annoying to clean tools (i.e. food processor)
pre~pare din~ner [pri-pair din-er] -verb
- the act of throwing together foods you already have in your house (i.e canned or frozen)
- pertains to meals you already know how to make
- includes store bought pre-made foods (i.e. Whole Foods)
- includes sauces found in a bottle
- sometimes requires going to a restaurant or ordering in
It's not that we don't like cooking.. on the contrary, we think it can be really fun sometimes. (Note words: "can be" and "sometimes") It's just that when we are tired or hungry after work, cooking isn't gonna happen.
Our issue with most cookbooks and cooking magazines is that they show us is how to cook, when what we really need is information, tips and ideas on how to prepare dinner. This is why we love Real Simple: Food. They totally get that.
Sure it’s a “Mom” magazine, but you see we share a common objective with Moms when it comes to food: minimal effort, time and money - maximum health and taste.
We love their layout & design, their simplicity, and their ability to nail our definition of preparing dinner. We hate that their regular issues are enormous novels, and we are not exactly about to take their fashion advice, but we do pick up a couple tips on cooking and cleaning from them each month.
Come to think of it, reading Real Simple is kinda like hanging out with our own Moms. They talk way too much and give you advice on stuff they shouldn’t, but you must admit they do know a thing or two. Especially when it comes to food.
Real Simple: Food is a special edition that features all the things we love about the magazine, and none of the other stuff. It’s much thinner, no odd relationship advice, just simple tips on preparing dinner and cleaning up. We found almost every article useful and interesting, and enough of a resource to earn itself a place in our kitchen next to 3 dusty cookbooks.
Article Highlights & What We Learned:
"So What's for Dinner?"
Simple way to create full meals out of some basic staples you really might actually have.
What we got out of it:
We bought frozen shrimp and have made it for dinner twice already. We are planning to add pesto to the items we have around the house. Plus these simple ideas to experiment with:
white wine vinaigrette - white wine, lemon, mustard, oil, salt pepper
caramelized onions – sautéed in butter and oil. We’ll skip butter, but we though it was a great idea to use onions to spice up a meal.
green eggs - add teaspoon of pesto when making scrambled eggs (sounds yummy)
quick marinade - lemon or lime, olive oil and parsley
shrimp fajitas - onion, frozen shrimp, chili powder, cumin, parsley or cilantro, salt and pepper served with tortillas
meat sauce - ground meat, onion, garlic, red wine, canned tomatoes
garbanzo bean salad - olive oil, lemon, parsley, salt
chicken soup - canned chicken stock, chicken breasts, onion, carrots, salt and pepper
chili - ground beef, onion, garlic, beef broth, canned tomatoes, can beans, chili powder, salt
balsamic glaze - simmer good balsamic vinegar until reduced by half. Serve with chicken or steak
"Skip that Step"
An informative and clever article about following recipes. Explains what you need to do and what you don’t.
What we got out of it:
you don’t really have to preheat the oven when roasting vegetables
you can really just marinate lean meat for an hour or 2, doesn’t have to be overnight
"When Good Apple (and Carrots and Herbs) Go Bad"
All about how to store fruits, vegetables and herbs so they last longer
What we got out of it:
Features a great Periodic Table of Produce, which is a full chart of what to refrigerate, what to put in a plastic bag, what to leave out etc.. Plus how long they keep before going bad
We also learned that unwashed produce lasts longer and that we should store fresh herbs either in water with a pinch of sugar, or dry in plastic bags with paper towels to absorb moisture
"5 Minute Magic"
Stuff you can do ahead of time to save time when it's time to prepare dinner
What we got out of it:
Whenever we make vinaigrette, make lots of it
"See Spots Go"
A guide on how to handle 18 common cleaning problems
What we got out of it:
Spray a cheese grater with Pam before using it and it won’t be a mess to clean.
Brush off the grill while it's still really hot everything will burn off and you don't have to clean it!
Denture tablets will clean stains off a porcelain sink
"Timing is Everything"
guide to the best times to do everything
What we got out of it:
Gives lists of when various fruits, vegetables and fish are in season (fish have a season!?)
More Great Articles
"Living in the Fast Food Lane" - tips on how to make take-out healthier
"Squeaky Clean" - tips on quick clean-ups
"The Sink Kit" - discusses the best cleaning products on the market
"No Fuss Dinner Party" – includes a menu, shopping list, a timeline of when to do everything, wine and music suggestions, and decorating tips
"The Little Oven That Could" – Dinner ideas you can make in your toaster oven! (i.e. Roasted Chicken with Olive Relish, Pesto Meatballs)
